Visually impaired cricketers of the future show their skills

Cricket NSW Media

The up-and-coming talent of the Blind Cricket NSW program will again be in action at Joe McAleer Park, Glendenning on Sunday 20 May in the second match of the three-game series to decide the champions of the Gordon Cooper Variety Youth NSW Blind Cricket Shield.

The series involves an adapted version of vision impaired cricket and matches several promising young cricketers representing a Sydney Thunder Youth T20 Blast team against their Sydney Sixers’ counterparts.

The tournament forms an integral part of the Cricket NSW All Abilities Program. The youth series was established by Blind Sports NSW in partnership with Variety – The Children’s Charity NSW through the Gordon Cooper family.

The initiative is also supported by Blacktown City Council, who have donated the venue for the event.

A spokesperson for Blind Sports NSW said that only through support such as that provided by Blacktown City Council that inclusion and adapted sport for those with disabilities can thrive.

The playing shirts and umpires for all three games of the series will be provided by Cricket NSW.

The Thunder defeated the Sixers by 17 runs in the first match of the tournament on 19 April at the Sydney Academy of Sport in Narrabeen. Thirteen-year-old Sophie Amerongen from Berowra was named Player of the Match.

She scored 19 and shared a vital 33-run partnership with Tyson O’Neil (12) from Kurri Kurri in the Hunter region of NSW. O’Neil is also a current Variety Scholarship recipient.

It is hoped that spectators from the surrounding Sydney metropolitan will come out to watch this adapted version of cricket that will see some of Australia’s finest blind cricketers mentor the fledgling talent across the Blind Cricket NSW program as they compete for the Youth NSW Blind Cricket Shield.

For more information on how to get involved with Blind Cricket in NSW, fortnightly training is available in the Bankstown area for anyone with a vision impairment who is interested in playing cricket. Please contact Jason Stubbs on 0402 227 540 or jasonstubbs@hotmail.com.